Chapter 10: Mind Your Own Business and Stay Aloof

"Yue'er, why are you asking for Chen Fan's address?"

"Have you forgotten? Yongwang needs Chen Fan to do him a favor, and since we can't reach him, we have no choice but to go to his house."

Guo Yue'er's tone was firm. While explaining to Lu Chunjiao, she was also trying to convince herself. Yes, that’s right, I’m only looking for him for Wan Yongwang’s sake. It’s definitely not because I’m trying to find out why he blocked me.

At this thought, Guo Yue'er felt aggrieved again. After so many years of friendship, he just cut ties like that—didn't he know she would be sad? And why did it have to be about being lovers? Couldn't he just be her big brother? Chen Fan, you jerk! Even if you buy me a designer bag this time, I won’t forgive you easily!

She conveniently forgot that when she tried to contact Chen Fan earlier, she had only just unblocked his number.

Lu Chunjiao knew her best friend’s temperament well. The way she looked so wronged showed she was just angry at Chen Fan, so there was no need for comfort. Chen Fan would be the one to comfort her anyway.

"Fine. Once we finish eating and drop our things off at home, we’ll go straight to Chen Fan’s place to find him."

"Mm."

When they first entered the mall, Guo Yue'er had been gloomy, but after seeing the dazzling array of beautiful clothes, her sadness had diminished significantly. Seeing this, Lu Chunjiao suggested they go shopping, and Guo Yue'er couldn't resist saying yes.

They spent hours shopping, splurging wildly—naturally, on Wan Yongwang’s credit card, which Guo Yue'er carried. Only when their stomachs were truly growling did they return to their original plan of eating at the Japanese restaurant.

Just then, the food they ordered arrived. Lu Chunjiao sat down beside Guo Yue'er.

"Alright, stop being angry. Let's take some photos!"

The restaurant was elegantly decorated and used top-tier ingredients, so it wasn't cheap. If it weren't for the fact that more than half of the shopping bags at their feet were hers, she wouldn't have been willing to treat Guo Yue'er to such an expensive meal. Two whole set menus!

The two of them busied themselves with selfies, adjusting angles, editing photos, and checking each other's work before picking the best ones to curate a grid post. Only after all that did they begin to eat.

Chen Fan and his companion were seated not far away. Chen Fan had his back to them and didn't notice, but Peng Jiaxin, bored while waiting for her food, caught the commotion and saw everything clearly. Girls these days are truly troublesome.

Chen Fan noticed Peng Jiaxin’s gaze and turned his head, locking eyes with Lu Chunjiao, who was sneaking a peek at him from her table. Chen Fan frowned slightly. How could he run into this person even when going out for a meal? What a drag.

At first, Lu Chunjiao hadn't recognized Chen Fan because his clothes and watch were not things she associated with him. But when she saw him frown, the face suddenly felt familiar.

"Chen Fan?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

"Hmm?"

Guo Yue'er had been thinking only of Chen Fan; hearing the name, she looked at Lu Chunjiao instinctively. "Why are you calling him all of a sudden?"

"No, I think I see Chen Fan." Lu Chunjiao pointed behind Guo Yue'er. "Look, it really looks like him."

Guo Yue'er turned around. Unlike Lu Chunjiao, even though Chen Fan was dressed in attire he would normally never wear, she recognized him at a glance. Is he... on a blind date?

"Chen Fan~"

Her aggrieved, whiny tone came out instantly, giving Chen Fan goosebumps.

"Oh? A little lover?" Peng Jiaxin remained detached, not expecting such a scene before dinner.

"No, I'm not close to her... or at least, I'm not close to her anymore. I promise, I have absolutely nothing to do with her!" He hadn't touched her, held her hand, or slept with her. Everything between him and Guo Yue'er was as pure as it could be.

"Brother Chen Fan, do you really not want Yue'er anymore?"

Chen Fan felt a headache coming on, but what gave him an even worse headache was Ms. Peng, who was smiling sweetly at him. Although she was still smiling, Chen Fan felt a trace of chill. No one likes their partner having a complicated, ambiguous friend of the opposite sex—remember, no one! Peng Jiaxin was no exception, but she chose to give Chen Fan a chance to explain.

"This person is my high school classmate... and college classmate. To be honest, I used to like her."

"And now?"

"If it weren't for you, I would have already moved back to my hometown."

Peng Jiaxin nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. Beside them, however, Guo Yue'er blew up.

"Chen Fan, what do you mean by that! It’s one thing to block me without asking, but now you want to just walk away? What do you take me for?"

"You blocked her too?"

The two of them tacitly ignored the hysterical woman. Watching her go off the rails, Peng Jiaxin felt slightly better.

"I’ve already cut ties with her, why would I keep her contact?" Chen Fan paused, feeling that might have been phrased poorly. "At most, we’re just people from the same hometown. Nothing more!"

The manager quickly arrived with staff, intending to pull the disruptive Guo Yue'er away. She didn't struggle, just looked at Chen Fan with teary eyes. As she was dragged away by the female staff, she projected an image of fragile, blurred heartbreak.

The onlookers, silently enjoying the drama, combined with Chen Fan’s expensive attire, instantly began imagining all sorts of scandalous narratives. A few enthusiastic girls had already raised their phones to record video.

"Sister, don't be afraid! We’re on your side!"

"Scumbags deserve to die!"

"Big sister, he’s treating you like this, are you really going to just sit there?"

It was so embarrassing! Lu Chunjiao was planning to pretend she didn't know her; she hadn't expected Guo Yue'er to react so intensely. But seeing more and more people speaking up for her friend, and the staff caught in the middle of dragging her out, she knew she had to step in.

"Are you all in league with him? Is that why you're feeling guilty? Are you afraid to let this scumbag speak clearly?"

"Exactly, exactly!"

A chorus of agreement rose up. The manager looked at Peng Jiaxin, distressed. "Ms. Peng..."

"Let her go. If we don't let her speak, they’ll think we’re doing something to her."

"Oh, alright." The manager breathed a sigh of relief, unaware that their actions had already invited trouble.

Chen Fan stood up and walked over to Guo Yue'er, his eyes filled with impatience. "What exactly do you want?"

"Brother Chen Fan, please don't cast Yue'er aside, Yue'er..."

"Stop!" Chen Fan couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on her. "First, you already have a boyfriend you've been with for three years, so please stop pestering me. We are just people from the same hometown, and nothing more, okay?"

"Second, I am married now. The woman sitting over there is my wife, so please stop saying things that would cause her misunderstandings, alright?"

Chen Fan’s voice was calm and loud enough for everyone present, including those recording, to hear clearly. "I’ll emphasize this one last time: we have no relationship. There is no point in you pestering me. Do you understand?"

With that, Chen Fan took Peng Jiaxin, who was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, and left. He left behind a stunned Guo Yue'er, who slumped to the floor, murmuring to herself:

"Impossible..."

"He promised he would wait for me... how could he be married?"

"He must be lying to me..."

"Yes, he must be lying to me!"